Hyderabad: The Hyderabad pothole problem has reached alarming levels, turning everyday commutes into a hazardous ordeal for motorists. With the monsoon setting in and civic repairs lagging, vast stretches of the city’s roads – both main and internal – have been reduced to cratered messes.
From upscale neighbourhoods to the city’s older quarters, potholes dominate the landscape. Officials estimate over 20,000 potholes across the Greater Hyderabad limits, yet repairs have barely begun. Torrential rains over the past week have only worsened the damage, while complaints flood the GHMC helpline with little to no response.
The city has over 9,000 kilometres of road under GHMC jurisdiction – 2,846 km of bitumen roads and 6,167 km of internal streets. Authorities admit that nearly 70% of these roads are affected. While ₹1,041 crore was sanctioned for 3,806 roads under the 2024–25 action plan, only ₹485 crore has been spent, and work is completed at just 1,680 sites. The rest are either delayed or stalled.
Shockingly, barring the 709 km maintained under CRMP, the remaining roads are in severe disrepair. As per Indian Road Congress guidelines, BT roads should last six years, and CC roads ten. But Hyderabad’s roads are crumbling within months – sparking allegations of deep-rooted corruption involving contractors and officials.
Major stretches such as Banjara Hills ACB Quarters, Jubilee Hills, Nanalnagar, Mehdipatnam, and LB Nagar are among the worst hit. In places like Amberpet and Narayanguda, knee-deep potholes have made roads almost impassable. Riders complain of skidding and injuries, urging authorities to fill the potholes before monsoon traffic picks up further.
